Product Description: The contributors to this new book analyse the opportunities for civil society associations to contribute to European integration and decision-making from various perspectives. The research demonstrates that the Europeanization process - in terms of civil society actors adapting to the European political space - has an uneven development...read more

Product Description: Social capital is a relatively new concept in the social sciences. In the last twenty or so years it has come to indicate that networks of social relationships represent a 'resource' for both the individual and society, since they provide support for the individual and facilitate collective action...read more

Product Description: Dieses Buch behandelt die sozialen und politischen Einstellungen, die staatsbürgerlichen Orientierungen und das soziale und politische Engagement der deutschen Bevölkerung. Dabei wird erstmals und umfassend ein doppelter Vergleich angestellt: Ein Vergleich der Einstellungen in West- und Ostdeutschland und ein Vergleich Deutschlands mit west- und osteuropäischen Ländern...read more

Product Description: The authors of this work examine the dominant view that voluntary activity promotes social capital and hence good government, but also explore alternative models for the creation of social capital. Theoretical discussion is combined with detailed case studies to provide a new explanation of : * the origins and nature of social capital * its effects on political participation and policy-making * the role of the voluntary sector Contributors go on to examine the possibility that current changes in the voluntary sector may in fact undermine social capital and consider the consequences...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Declining religiosity, waning class values, rising postmaterialism, along with Green values, postmodernism, feminism, are indicative of profound and widespread change in the values of citizens. This volume tracks these changes and analyses their impact on political efficacy, interest, activity, trust, voting, and involvement in new social movements...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

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